Hair extension

ABSTRACT

A hair extension formed by a lock of hair is fixed with respect to a substantially rigid plate, from a first face of which there extends at least one linear layered tress of hair, the ends of which are fixed head-on to said face, orthogonal to the plane thereof. A second face of the plate is opposite to the first face and carries means for permanent attachment or means for temporary attachment to the hair.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 National Phase of International ApplicationNumber PCT/IB2011/054362 filed on Oct. 4, 2011, and published in Englishon Apr. 12, 2012 as International Publication Number WO 2012/046188 A1,which claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. TO2010A000810,filed on Oct. 5, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair extensions of the type comprisinga lock of hair rendered fixed with respect to a body made ofthermoplastic material provided for anchorage thereof to the hair.

PRIOR ART

To connect the above sort of hair extensions to the hair of the user soas to lengthen it and thicken it and render it more voluminous, varioussolutions have been proposed, none of which, however, has provencompletely satisfactory.

Hence, for example, in the case of the British patent No. GB-2288976 andof the German patent No. DEA 9626107, the body made of thermoplasticmaterial consists of a strip and of a sheet, respectively, on theinternal surface of which there adheres one end of the extension lock,with the corresponding hair set parallel to said surface. For itsapplication, the strip or sheet, respectively, is then folded around theend of the lock of hair and then subjected to heating to bring aboutsoftening thereof and finally, following upon subsequent cooling,consequent fixing of the extension on the hair.

In either case, following upon application of the strip or sheet, eventhough this is partially transparent, it remains visible, and thisconstitutes an evident drawback of an aesthetic nature. Furthermore,since the extension lock hangs from the strip or sheet parallel to theplane thereof, the so to speak voluminizing effect of the hair extensionapplied is insufficient or even inexistent, which constitutes a furtheraesthetic drawback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaiddrawbacks and, more in particular, to provide a hair extension of thetype defined above that will enable, following upon its application tothe hair of the user, an improved effect of thickening and above allvoluminization of the hair to be obtained.

A further object is to provide a hair extension, the element ofanchorage of which to the hair is, in the condition where the extensionis applied, substantially invisible.

According to the invention, the above objects are achieved basicallythanks to the fact that the aforesaid body made of plastic materialconsists of a substantially rigid plate, from a first face of whichthere extends at least one linear layered tress of hair, the ends ofwhich are fixed head-on to said face, orthogonal to the plane thereof,and the second face of which, opposite to the first one, carries meansfor permanent attachment or means for temporary attachment to the hair.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, fixed to theaforesaid first face of the plate made of thermoplastic material,starting from its top, are multiple linear tresses of hair set on top ofone another and slightly at a distance from one another.

The invention envisages various configurations of the means forattachment to the hair associated to the second face of the plate,whether of a permanent-attachment type, in particular by thermoadhesion,or of a temporary-attachment type, as well as a peculiar method Ofapplication of the extension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to theannexed drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limitingexample and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic and partial dorsal perspective view of a hairextension according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views similar to that of FIG. 1 showing, respectively,a second embodiment and a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are two schematic and partial front perspective views thatshow a fourth embodiment and a fifth embodiment of the invention,respectively;

FIG. 6 is a dorsal perspective view that illustrates schematically asixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 8-14 show schematically the sequence of the steps of applicationof the sixth embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With initial reference to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment the hairextension according to the invention comprises a plate 1 made ofthermoplastic material, which is substantially rigid at room temperatureor even relatively flexible, having for example a general quadrangularshape.

The plate 1 has an external or dorsal face 1 a and an internal or frontface 1 b, of which the first carries an extension lock of hairdesignated as a whole by 2, and the second is provided for anchoragethereof to the hair of the user.

According to the peculiar characteristic of the invention, the lock 2includes at least one linear layered tress of hair, and moreconveniently a plurality (in the example illustrated, four) of suchlinear layered tresses of hair 2 a, 2 b, 2 c and 2 d, set on top of oneanother and slightly spaced apart, starting from the top or top end 1 cof the plate 1.

The hair of each linear layered tress 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d is renderedfixed with respect to the dorsal face 1 a of the plate 1 as a result offixing of the respective tips in a direction orthogonal to the said face1 a. To fix the surface of the face 1 a, this is heated until itsoftens, and then the tips of the hair are englobed therein, beinginserted, as has been said, in a direction perpendicular to the plane ofthe face 1 a. Said operation can be obtained, also simultaneously forthe hair of all the tresses 2 a-2 d, via a suitable tool for grippingthe hair, via application of a heat-meltable adhesive on the face 1 a,heating, insertion head-on of the hair, and then fixing thereoffollowing upon cooling. At the end of cooling, the face 1 a will englobein a permanent way the tips of the hair of the various linear tressesset on top of one another 2 a-2 d, with a “waterfall” effect exemplifiedin the drawings, which, in the condition where the extension is applied,enables an aesthetically appreciable voluminization to be obtained, inaddition to thickening of the hair to which the extension is applied.Furthermore, the plate 1, hidden by the tresses of hair 2 a-2 d, will besubstantially invisible.

For its application, the front face 1 b opposite to the dorsal face 1 aof the plate 1 can be configured with different alternative systems ofpermanent attachment or temporary attachment to the hair.

In the case of FIG. 1, the system of permanent attachment consists of aseries of appendages 3, which are formed integrally with the plate 1,projecting in a direction orthogonal to the face 1 b and to the multipletresses of hair 2 a-2 d, substantially like a comb. Introduced, in use,within the spaces comprised between the appendages 3 are locks of thehair, which are then anchored to the plate 1 by means of heating,softening, and plastic deformation of said appendages 3 against the face1 b. Following upon subsequent cooling and hardening of the appendages 3thus deformed, the locks of the hair will be firmly anchored to theplate 1.

In the case of FIG. 2, where parts that are identical or similar to theones already described previously are designated by the same referencenumbers, the system of permanent attachment of the plate 1 to the hairis constituted by a side flange 4 of the plate 1, which can be folded byhot deformation from the open position represented in the figures, whereit extends substantially orthogonal to the face 1 b, to a closingposition for gripping a lock of hair against said face 1 b.

In the case of FIG. 3, the flange 4 is replaced by a pair of opposedside flanges 5, which can also be folded by hot deformation from theopen position represented in the figures to a closed position forgripping the lock of hair against the face 1 b of the plate 1.

The anchorage systems described so far, which may obviously differ fromthe constructional standpoint, provide, as has been said, a permanentanchorage of the extension to the hair of the user, in the sense thatits possible subsequent removal requires application of a solvent or thelike for detachment of the plate 1 from the lock to which the extensionhas been applied.

The variants represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 show, instead, two examples oftemporary application; the hair extensions are immediately removablewithout requiring particular operations on the plate 1.

In the case of FIG. 4, the plate 1 to the dorsal face 1 a of which thelinear layered tresses of hair 2 a, 2 b, 2 c. 2 d are anchored with thesame modalities described previously, has an elongated shape, and one ormore combs 6 for engagement to corresponding locks of hair aremechanically fixed to its front face 1 b, for example by riveting orelse gluing.

In the case of FIG. 5, the plate 1, which also has a general elongatedconformation, is provided on its front face 1 b with a biadhesive tape 7for application, that is by adhesion, to the hair.

In both cases, the voluminizing effect that derives from the dispositionof the tresses of hair 2 a, 2 b, 2 c 2 d projecting in a directionorthogonal to the plane of the plate 1 is, in the condition applied,altogether identical to what has been described with reference to theembodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3.

The same effect is obtained with the further example of temporaryapplication of the plate 1 represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, where it isprovided with a flexible tab 8, conveniently constituted by a partiallybiadhesive strip of plastic material or the like, having a front 8 a anda back 8 b.

The tab 8 includes three consecutive foldable portions A, B, C, where;

the first portion A is joined to the face 1 b of the plate 1 on the back8 b of the tab 8, for example via adhesive;

the first portion A, the second portion B, and the third portion C areadhesive on the front side 8 a of the tab 8 and are coated with a firstanti-adhesive layer or sheet 9 that can be removed upon application ofthe extensions;

the third portion C is adhesive also on the bark 8 b of the tab ‘8 andis coated with a second anti-adhesive layer or sheet 10, removable atthe end of application of the extension.

For joining to the face 1 b of the plate 1, the first portion A isconveniently adhesive also on the back 8 b of the tab 8, whereas thesecond portion B is adhesive only on the front 8 a.

To apply the plate 1 with the tab 8 to a lock of hair the procedure isaccording to the sequence of steps illustrated schematically in. FIGS.8-14.

First of all, the first anti-adhesive layer 9 is removed so as to exposethe adhesive portions A, B, C on the front side 8 a of the tab 8 (FIG.8).

Then, the ends of a lock of hair are applied on the second adhesiveportion B (FIG. 9) in a distributed way, and the second adhesive portionB is closed against the first adhesive portion A by exerting a slightpressure (FIG. 10).

Next, the second adhesive portion B is separated and re-opened withrespect to the first adhesive portion A (FIG. 11), and the thirdadhesive portion C is folded and made to adhere, by exerting pressure,against the second adhesive portion B (FIG. 12).

Then the second anti-adhesive layer 10 is removed, so as to expose thethird adhesive portion C on the back 8 b of the tab 8 (FIG. 13), andfinally the first adhesive portion A and the third adhesive portion Care folded and made to adhere by pressure against one another (FIG. 14).

Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may varywidely with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein,without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention asdefined in the ensuing claims.

1. A hair extension comprising: a lock of hair rendered fixed withrespect to a body made of thermoplastic material, which is provided foranchorage thereof to hair, said body consisting of a substantially rigidplate, extending from a first face (1 a) of which is at least one linearlayered tress of hair, said at least one linear layered tress comprisingends fixed head-on to said first face, orthogonal to the plane thereof,and said plate comprising a second face, opposite to the first face,said second face carrying means for permanent attachment or means fortemporary attachment to the hair.
 2. The hair extension according toclaim 1 wherein fixed to said first face of the plate starting from itstop, are multiple linear tresses of hair set on top of one another andat a slight distance from one another.
 3. The hair extension accordingto claim 1, wherein said means for permanent attachment comprise aseries of tooth-shaped appendages, which are formed integrally with saidplate and project in a direction orthogonal to said at least one linearlayered tress of hair, said tooth-shaped appendages being foldable bymeans of hot deformation against said second face.
 4. The hair extensionaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for permanent attachmentcomprise a side flange, which is formed integrally with said plate andprojects in a direction orthogonal to said at least one linear layeredtress of hair, said side flange being foldable against said second faceby means of hot deformation.
 5. The hair extension according to claim 1,wherein said means for permanent attachment comprise two side flanges,which are formed integrally with said plate and project in a directionorthogonal to said at least one linear layered tress of hair, said twoside flanges being foldable against said second face by means of hotdeformation.
 6. The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein saidmeans for temporary attachment comprise at least one comb fixedmechanically to said second face of the plate.
 7. The hair extensionaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for temporary attachmentcomprise a biadhesive tape applied to said second face of the plate. 8.The hair extension according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the hair ofsaid at least one linear layered tress are fixed head-on to said firstface of the plate by means of thermoadhesion.
 9. The hair extensionaccording to claim 1 wherein said means for temporary attachmentcomprise a flexible tab having a front side and a back and include threeconsecutive foldable portions, wherein: a first portion of the foldableportion is joined to the second face of said plate on the back of thetab; the first portion, a second portion of the foldable portion, andthe third portion of the foldable portion are adhesive on the front sideof the tab and are coated with a first removable anti-adhesive layer;and third portion is adhesive also on the back of the tab and is coatedwith a second removable anti-adhesive layer.
 10. The extension accordingto claim 9, wherein to enable joining said plate to the second face saidfirst portion is adhesive on the back of the tab.
 11. A method forapplying the hair extension according to claim 9 to hair, comprising thefollowing steps: removing said first anti-adhesive layer to expose saidadhesive portions on the front side of the tab; applying the end of alock of hair in a distributed way on said second adhesive portion;closing said second adhesive portion against said first adhesiveportion; reopening said second adhesive portion away from said firstadhesive portion; closing said third adhesive portion and causing it toadhere by exerting pressure against said second adhesive portion;removing said second anti-adhesive layer and exposing said thirdadhesive portion on the back of the tab; and closing said first adhesiveportion and said third adhesive portion and causing them to adhereagainst one another by exerting pressure.